Actually the sexual revolution has destroyed our ability to know the inner person before we jump into a long term relationship. Putting sex on the side gives one the opportunity to experience the entire person and, should there not be a match, walk away from the relationship intact. My wife and I were friends long before we dated. By being friends, I was able to identify those traits that endeared her to me and likewise those that caused me to hesitate. Knowing the pros outnumbered the cons (especially after she gave up smoking), we began to date and things evolved from there. I advised all of my daughters to proceed slowly and hopefully they heeded my advice as we’ve not encountered a divorce to date.
Sound advice. Ya know my parents cautioned me not to marry a girl who wasn’t a Christian. I learned the hard way parents know best.